OUAZ Women's Basketball Beats Saint Mary 96-54 to Move to 3-0

The OUAZ women’s basketball team pushed their record to a perfect 3-0 on Saturday, dismantling the College of Saint Mary in a 96-54 rout to close out the Omaha Hardwood Classic. The Spirit, having showcased a potent mix of perimeter shooting and defensive intensity, effectively silenced the host crowd in Omaha, Nebraska, by maintaining a double-digit lead for the vast majority of the contest.

According to OUAZ Athletics, the game was never truly in doubt after the opening ten minutes. While the Spirit trailed briefly during the first quarter, they quickly surged to a 24-12 advantage by the end of the period. This early momentum was fueled by aggressive defense that forced six turnovers, setting a tone that the Flames were unable to counter for the remainder of the afternoon.

Dominance in the Paint and on the Perimeter

The second quarter saw the Spirit dismantle the Flames’ defensive structure entirely, outscoring the hosts 26-10 to head into halftime with a commanding 50-22 lead. OUAZ shot over 60 percent from the field during that stretch, a efficiency level that highlights the team’s current offensive rhythm. By the time the third quarter concluded, the Spirit had extended their lead to 44 points, fueled by a 19-2 run that effectively ended any hopes of a comeback.

Kaylona Butler served as the primary catalyst for the Spirit’s high-octane attack. Butler finished with a game-high 23 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor and connecting on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Her performance was complemented by veteran forward Madison Symons, who contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and four defensive contributions—two steals and two assists. Symons’ ability to get to the free-throw line, where she converted 7-of-8 attempts, provided a steadying presence whenever the pace of the game threatened to stall.

Bench Depth and Defensive Execution

The victory was a collective effort, with the Spirit’s bench accounting for 32 of the team’s 96 points. Sophia Lopez and Meela Delap each added 10 points, while Kendall Pickford’s early perimeter shooting helped stretch the floor, forcing the Flames to defend the entire court. Defensively, the statistics paint a picture of a team that prioritized forcing mistakes; OUAZ forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 30 points.

Sophia lopez attends the pen america literary awards at the town hall on thursday march in york by evan agostiniinvisionap

The efficiency of the Spirit’s shooting—finishing at 51.5 percent overall and 52.6 percent from three-point range—stands as a stark contrast to the Flames, who were held to just 10 percent shooting from behind the arc. OUAZ also dominated the glass, pulling down 43 rebounds compared to the Flames’ 25. This statistical disparity underscores the physical toll the Spirit’s size and depth took on their opponents throughout the weekend.

Having averaged nearly 80 points per game across their first three outings, the Spirit have established themselves as a formidable early-season force. The team now turns its attention to a road trip to California. OUAZ is scheduled to face Pacific Union on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:00 p.m., looking to carry this momentum into their next non-conference test.